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Why do Countries Enter into Preferential Agreements on Trade in Services? Assessing the Potential for Negotiated Regulatory Convergence in Asian Services Markets

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  • MILE 02, Anirudh Shingal
  • Sauvé, Pierre

Abstract

More than a third of the World Trade Organization (WTO)-notified services trade agreements (STAs) in effect over January 2008 - August 2015 have involved at least one (South or Southeast) Asian trading partner. Drawing on Baier and Bergstrand's (2004) determinants of preferential trade agreements and using the World Bank's database on the restrictiveness of domestic services regimes (Borchert et.al. 2012), we examine the potential for negotiated regulatory convergence in Asian services markets. Our results suggest that countries within Asia with high levels of pre-existing bilateral merchandise trade and wide differences in services regulatory frameworks are more likely candidates for STA formation. Such results lend support to the hypothesis that the heightened servicification of production generates a demand for the lowered service input costs resulting from negotiated market opening.

Suggested Citation

  • MILE 02, Anirudh Shingal & Sauvé, Pierre, 2016. "Why do Countries Enter into Preferential Agreements on Trade in Services? Assessing the Potential for Negotiated Regulatory Convergence in Asian Services Markets," Papers 949, World Trade Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:wti:papers:949
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Egger & Anirudh Shingal, 2021. "Determinants of services trade agreement membership," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 157(1), pages 21-64, February.
    2. Anirudh Shingal, 2016. "Colonial legacy, services trade and LDCs," RSCAS Working Papers 2016/70, European University Institute.
    3. Egger, Peter & MILE 02, Anirudh Shingal, 2014. "Determinants of services trade agreements," Papers 721, World Trade Institute.
    4. MILE 02, Anirudh Shingal & Roy, Martin & Sauvé, Pierre, 2014. "Are Asian services markets optimal regulatory convergence areas?," Papers 719, World Trade Institute.

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    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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